Academic Grievances

Procedures for Academic Grievances

A student should not assume that petitioning a complaint or grievance means that the petition will be granted. The student should continue to attend classes and fulfill the requirements of the course in which the student is currently enrolled.

An aggrieved student should follow the following procedures:

Step 1

It is recommended that a student consult with his or her academic advisor before and while initiating a complaint or grievance. In cases where the academic advisor is the subject of the complaint or grievance, the student should consult the Provost.

1. The student should discuss the problem with the respondent.
2. If a problem is not mutually resolved, the student should speak with the immediate supervisor (usually the department chair) of the respondent. If the respondent is a supervisor of the department chair, the student should speak with the Provost or the person to whom the Provost has delegated this responsibility, hereafter referred to as the Provost’s designate.

Step 2

1. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved in Step 1, the student has the right to file a grievance with the Provost or the Provost’s designate. This written allegation must describe the grievance, a summary of the circumstances surrounding it, the related evidence, and what has already been done in attempting to resolve it.
2. The Provost or the Provost’s designate will convene a grievance committee and a hearing shall be scheduled within 15 days after receipt of the written grievance.
   1. The grievance committee will be composed of three members of the full-time teaching faculty, one chosen by the student, one chosen by the respondent, and one chosen by the Provost or the Provost’s designate. All three members selected for the committee will be based in the instructor’s academic division. In cases where the instructor is not represented by an academic division, the Provost or Provost’s designate will facilitate the selection process.
   2. The grievance committee will hear testimony from the student, the respondent, and whomever else it deems appropriate.
   3. The grievance committee will maintain confidentiality concerning any information presented in the hearing.
   4. There will be no legal counsel present in the hearing of the grievance committee.
   5. At the discretion of the Provost or the Provost’s designate, the committee will have access to all materials it feels is relevant to the case.
3. Within 15 days after completion of the hearing, the grievance committee will submit its recommendation to the Provost or the Provost’s designate for his or her resolution. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the respondent, and the student. A file of the recommendation and resolution is kept in the Provost’s office.
4. The student may withdraw the grievance at any point in the proceedings by requesting in writing to the Provost or the Provost’s designate.
5. The Provost or the Provost’s designate may grant an extension of the time limit of this procedure for good cause.
6. The student or the respondent may appeal to the Provost (if the Provost has not handled the case himself or herself), and then to the President of the College if either finds the resolution of the matter unsatisfactory

504 Grievance Policy and Procedure

Policy Statement:

Marietta College is committed to ensuring compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Marietta College has established an internal grievance procedure to ensure the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging actions prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Section 504 Coordinator:

The Section 504 Coordinator for Marietta College is Lindsay Morgan, Director of Accessibility Services. She can be contacted at:

Lindsay Morgan, 504 Coordinator
Marietta College
215 Fifth Street
Marietta, OH 45750
Phone: (740) 376-4467
Email: accessibility@marietta.edu

Eligibility:

Any person, including students, employees, or third parties, who believes they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, may file a grievance under this procedure. It is illegal for Marietta College to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.

Grievance Procedure:

1. Filing a Grievance:
   • Grievances must be filed with the 504 Coordinator within 90 calendar days from the date the complainant becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action.
   • The grievance should be submitted in writing and include:
     • The name, mailing address, and email address of the person filing the grievance.
     • A detailed description of the alleged discriminatory action or decision.
     • The remedy or relief sought.
   • Grievances may be submitted via:
     •  Mail: Lindsay Morgan, 504 Coordinator, Marietta College, 215 Fifth Street, Marietta, OH 45750
     • Email: accessibility@marietta.edu
2. Investigation:
   • Upon receipt of the grievance, the 504 Coordinator will conduct an investigation, which may be either informal or formal depending on the complainant’s preference.
   • If the complainant agrees to pursue informal resolution, the process will be informal. If a formal investigation is pursued, all relevant evidence and witness testimonies will be considered.
   • The investigation will be fair, impartial, and thorough.
3. Decision:
   • A written decision will be issued by the 504 Coordinator no later than 60 calendar days after the grievance is filed.
   • The written decision will include the findings and the basis for the decision.
   • Copies of the decision will be provided to the complainant and any relevant parties involved in the grievance.
4. Appeals:
   • If the complainant disagrees with the outcome, they may file a complaint with an external agency such as:
     • U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
     • Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC)
     • U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
5. Monitoring and Corrective Action:
   • The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for monitoring the implementation of corrective actions required as a result of the grievance decision.
   • Marietta College will take necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of discriminatory actions and to remedy any negative impact on the complainant or others affected by the discrimination.

Accommodation for Disabilities:

Marietta College is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to all grievance procedures. If needed, reasonable accommodations (such as audio materials or accessible meeting spaces) will be provided to assist individuals in participating in the grievance process. The 504 Coordinator will work with the complainant to arrange necessary accommodations.

Confidentiality:

While Marietta College is required to respond to allegations of discrimination, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. However, the College will make every effort to respect confidentiality to the extent possible. Information regarding the grievance will be shared only with individuals within the College community who “need to know” to investigate or resolve the complaint. Individuals with a need to know will be instructed to maintain confidentiality as appropriate.